You bought a home. One form can lower your property tax bill every year you live there: the homestead exemption. Here is what to file, when, and where, for every North Atlanta county and city we serve.
Quick facts
- What it does: Lowers the taxable value of your primary home.
- Who qualifies: You own the home and live in it as your primary residence on January 1. Bought after January 1? Apply anyway; the exemption starts with the next tax year.
- Deadline: April 1 in Bartow, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer and Pickens counties. In Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb and Paulding, you can file until the appeal deadline on your annual assessment notice.
- Where to file: Your county tax office (table below). A few cities need their own application too.
- How long it lasts: Until the home changes ownership. You file once.
File with your county
| County | Where to file | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Bartow | Tax Commissioner | April 1 |
| Cherokee | Tax Assessors, in person in Canton | Appeal deadline on your assessment notice |
| Cobb | Tax Commissioner (online filing) | Appeal deadline on your assessment notice |
| DeKalb | Tax Commissioner (online filing) | Appeal deadline on your assessment notice |
| Forsyth | Board of Assessors (online filing) | April 1 |
| Fulton | Board of Assessors (online filing) | April 1 |
| Gilmer | Tax Assessor | April 1 |
| Paulding | Board of Assessors (email or in person) | Appeal deadline on your assessment notice |
| Pickens | Tax Assessor, in Jasper | April 1 |
Another county? Find it on the Georgia Department of Revenue's County Property Tax Facts page.
Check your city
Most cities apply your county exemption automatically. These cities need a separate city application:
| City | What to file with the city |
|---|---|
| Marietta | All city exemptions. File with Cobb County too. |
| Kennesaw | Senior exemption (65+), by April 1 |
| Alpharetta | Senior exemption |
| Milton | Senior, full value and disability exemptions, by April 1 |
| Roswell | Senior and disabled veteran exemptions, January 1 to June 1 |
Your county filing covers the city in Acworth, Ball Ground, Brookhaven, Canton, Cartersville, Dallas, Dunwoody, Holly Springs, Jasper, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Waleska and Woodstock. Cumming has no city property tax. Not sure about your city? Call its finance office before the deadline.
Seniors and disability
Many Georgia counties reduce or remove the school portion of property taxes for owners 62 and older, and some offer breaks for owners with certain disabilities. Rules and income limits vary, so check your county's page above, and your city's if it is listed.
Mortgage interest
You can deduct the interest on your mortgage on your federal return, within IRS limits. It only helps if you itemize instead of taking the standard deduction. Your lender reports the year's interest on Form 1098, and early in a loan most of each payment goes to interest. The IRS explains the rules in Publication 936.
Land in conservation use
Buying acreage that is actively farmed? Georgia's Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) can lower its assessed value. Ending the covenant early, which can happen when the property sells, triggers penalties. Ask before you buy.
Buying your first home? Start with our First-Time Home Buyer Guide. To see how your tax bill is calculated, read Property Taxes Explained.
